Biden Gaffes and Disastrous Speech to Irish Parliament, Standing Ovation for Hunter Biden

On April 13, 2023, President Joe Biden delivered an address to the Irish Parliament, known as the Oireachtas, in Dublin during the middle of a four-day trip to Ireland. The speech became notable for a series of verbal stumbles, including Biden reading teleprompter instructions aloud, confusing New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby team with the British Black and Tans paramilitary force, telling a bizarre family story about a revolutionary warlord, and claiming to have “more experience than any president in American history.” The Irish Parliament also gave a standing ovation to Hunter Biden, who accompanied his father on the trip.

Biden Confuses All Blacks With Black and Tans

One of the most discussed moments from Biden’s Ireland visit involved him confusing two entirely different historical references. While discussing a rugby tie he was wearing, Biden appeared to conflate New Zealand’s famous All Blacks rugby team with the Black and Tans, the notorious British paramilitary force that operated in Ireland during the War of Independence.

As captured in the transcript, Biden said: “Do you see this tie I have with the shamrock on it? This was given to me by one of these guys right here. It was a hell of a rugby player. They beat the hell out of the black and tan.”

Confusing a beloved sports team with a paramilitary force responsible for violence against Irish civilians during the independence struggle was a particularly sensitive error given the audience of Irish lawmakers.

Biden Reads Teleprompter Instructions Aloud

During his address to the Oireachtas, Biden lost his battle with the teleprompter in a moment that went viral. While quoting the Irish poet Eavan Boland’s poem “Mother Ireland,” Biden read the stage direction aloud to the assembled Parliament.

Biden recited: “Now, now I can tell my story. It was different from the stories told about me. End of quote.” The words “End of quote” were instructions on the teleprompter indicating where the quotation ended, not words that were meant to be spoken aloud. The moment suggested Biden was reading the text for the first time rather than having rehearsed the speech.

In another teleprompter stumble during the same address, Biden said: “Archer reminds us, Archer’s, yours and mine, reminds us of the responsibilities we have to the president, to be the president.” He appeared to misread “the present” as “the president” before catching himself, but not before the error was broadcast to the Parliament.

The Revolutionary Warlord Story

Biden told one of his characteristically personal family stories during the address, recounting a conversation he claimed to have had with his grandfather about an Irish revolutionary figure. However, the story struck many observers as improbable.

Biden recalled: “And I never understood what he meant when he said, Joey, I worry about you. He said, you’re too much. You’re too much like that guy who led the revolution. He said to the guy who was the prime minister. He said, you’ve got to be less like the military guy. They shot him.”

The story, in which Biden’s grandfather allegedly compared young Joey Biden to a revolutionary leader who was executed, raised questions about its veracity. Biden has frequently been criticized for embellishing or fabricating personal anecdotes, and the vague references to unnamed historical figures added to the skepticism.

”More Experience Than Any President in American History”

Biden made a sweeping claim about his qualifications during the address: “The only thing I bring to this career after my age, as you can see how old I am, was a little bit of wisdom. I come to the job with more experience than any president of American history. It doesn’t make me better or worse, but it gives me a few excuses.”

The claim that he had more experience than any president in American history was notable both for its boldness and for the self-deprecating humor that followed it. Biden served as a U.S. Senator for 36 years and as Vice President for eight years before becoming President, giving him decades of government experience, though the “more than any president” framing was seen as an overstatement by some observers.

Irish Parliament Gives Ovation to Hunter Biden

In one of the more unusual moments of the parliamentary address, the Irish Houses of the Oireachtas gave a standing ovation to Hunter Biden, who was in attendance. Biden introduced his son during the speech: “My son, Hunter’s with me and my best friend in the world, my sister, Valerie’s with me today. And I want to thank her.”

The rousing reception for Hunter Biden was ironic given that he was at the time the subject of a federal investigation and ongoing political controversy in the United States regarding his business dealings, tax issues, and the discovery of classified documents at locations linked to the Biden family.

Biden on Climate Change and Xi Jinping

During the address, Biden declared climate change the paramount global threat: “The single existential threat to the world is climate change. We don’t have a lot of time. And that’s a fact. I’m even recognizing, finally, everyone’s recognizing America.”

Biden also repeated one of his frequently told stories about his extensive interactions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, raising his voice to emphasize the point: “I’ve met more with Xi Jinping than any world leader has over the last 10 years. Over, excuse me, 91 hours of just one-on-one conversations. 68 in person. I’ve traveled 17,000 miles with him through Asia primarily, through China.”

He then recounted a conversation with Xi on the Tibetan Plateau, a story he has told numerous times: “He once asked me on the Tibetan Plateau, he said, Can you define America for me? This is the God’s truth. I said, Yes, I can. In one word. But if you asked me what Ireland could have said the same thing. One word. Possibilities.”

Biden Dodges Classified Documents Leak Questions

During his brief press availability in Ireland, reporters attempted to question Biden about a classified military documents leak that was dominating the news at the time. Biden gave a minimal response: “I’m not concerned about the late because I’m concerned that it happened. But there’s nothing contemporaneous that I’m aware of that is our great councilman.”

The answer was largely incoherent, and when reporters pressed for an update on the investigation, Biden deflected entirely: “I’m going to go plant trees. I’m going to plant trees. Thank you all very much.” He then added, to laughter: “And I’m not going home. I’m staying here. Is this an incredible place? All you American reporters? Looks just like the White House, right?”

A reporter even asked Biden for a selfie during the extremely brief press gaggle, underscoring how informal and unsubstantive the press interaction was during the overseas trip.

Additional Context

Biden’s four-day Ireland trip was billed as a celebration of his Irish heritage and a chance to strengthen U.S.-Irish relations. However, the visit was largely overshadowed by his verbal gaffes, teleprompter struggles, and avoidance of serious questions about the classified documents leak. The presence of Hunter Biden on the trip and his reception by the Irish Parliament added a layer of political commentary, given the ongoing investigations surrounding the President’s son in the United States.

Biden was also observed needing direction from staff about where to stand and where to go during various events on the trip, and at one point a ball sailed over his head as he watched Irish children play traditional Gaelic sports, prompting Biden to exclaim “Whoa!”

Key Takeaways

• Biden read the teleprompter instruction “End of quote” aloud to the Irish Parliament during his address, and separately misread “the present” as “the president.”
• Biden confused New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby team with the British Black and Tans paramilitary force, saying a rugby player “beat the hell out of the black and tan” to an audience of Irish lawmakers.
• Biden claimed to have “more experience than any president of American history” and told a story about his grandfather comparing him to an Irish revolutionary who was shot dead.
• The Irish Parliament gave Hunter Biden a standing ovation, despite his being the subject of a federal investigation in the United States.
• Biden dodged questions about a classified military documents leak, saying he was going to “go plant trees” rather than engage with reporters’ questions.